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Last-gasp field goal blocked as Eagles fall in semifinals 23-20

North Dakota State's Zach Vraa, left, is interfered with by Georgia Southern's Nic Wright during the FCS playoff semifinals of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, in Fargo, N.D. (AP Photo/The Forum, David Samson)

Georgia Southern traveled halfway across the country to play top-seeded North Dakota State on Friday night in the semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

And the fifth-seeded Eagles went a long way toward reversing the nightmare they experienced at the Fargodome a year ago.

Southern jumped out to a quick start, battled through a Bison third-quarter run, took a lead again only to falter in the end.

The Eagles had their hearts broken when Brock Jensen scored on a 5-yard quarterback draw with 3:05 to go as NDSU pulled out a wild 23-20 victory.

The Eagles finished their season with a 10-4 record and lost in the semifinals for the third year in a row.

North Dakota State (13-1) will meet today’s winner between Sam Houston State and Eastern Washington with a chance to win its second straight national championship Jan. 5 in Frisco, Tex.

Southern lost to the Bison 35-7 in the semifinals a year ago. With basically a rebuilt offense and defense, the Eagles led most of the way Friday.

“It hurts, it hurts bad,” said GSU coach Jeff Monken in an emotional press conference after the game. “When you care it hurts. I love these kids. But to get to this point in the semis and not get it done.

But Southern couldn’t hold back the Bison’s final stampede. Two Eagle penalties aided the 53-yard march. And Jensen’s game-winning run came on fourth down after the Eagles called two timeouts.

“We actually knew it was coming,” GSU defensive tackle Brent Russell said. “We read it pretty good. The call just didn’t work out and they were able to make a play and score.”

Southern had one last chance after Ezayi Youyoute completed a 40-yard bomb to Zach Walker, but with less than 30 seconds left, Drew Ruggles, a soccer player who tried out and made the team this week to bolster the kicking game, had a 50-yard field-goal try blocked by Carlton Littlejohn.

“I can’t explain it,” Eagles safety J.J. Wilcox said. “Any time you have three years in a row like this, it just kills you. North Dakota State did a great job capitalizing. My hat’s off to them.”

The pregame was filled with pageantry. Lights were turned off in the Fargodome for several minutes while loud music blared and the decibel levels of cheering fans rose to a fevered pitch.

At the end of the national anthem, instead of the verse “home of the brave,” NDSU fans roared, “home of the Bison.”

The Eagles fans had the first chance to cheer. Southern marched 79 yards on 14 plays. The Eagles picked up a key first down on when reserve quarterback Youyoute entered and completed a 15-yard pass to Kentrellis Showers to the NDSU 46.

It was Youyoute’s first action since suffering a knee injury Nov. 3 against Appalachian State.

Nine plays later, GSU unraveled another new wrinkle. On fourth and 1 from the Bison 4, Wilcox, used as a safety all season, took a pitch as a slotback and scooted into the end zone. Alex Hanks’ extra point was blocked by Christian Dudzik to keep it 6-0.

The Bison answered on the next possession. A 26-yard run by Jensen on a naked bootleg positioned NDSU at the GSU 4.

Two plays later, John Crockett bolted in from the 1 to tie the game. Russell blocked the extra point to keep it tied at 6.

Southern regained the lead with another unusual play – the pass. McKinnon found Swope open over the middle and the fullback made his first reception of the season, bouncing off potential tacklers for a 49-yard touchdown to make it 13-6.

Just before the half, North Dakota State cut the Eagles lead to four on Adam Keller’s 36-yard field goal.

The Bison regained the momentum to begin the second half. NDSU’s defense got a stop, and the offense needed just two plays to take the lead. Running back Sam Ojuri took advantage of a big hole on the right side and went 53 yards for a go-ahead touchdown, 16-13.

Southern was resilient, and McKinnon put the Eagles back in front 20-16 with a 25-yard touchdown run.

It was McKinnon’s 15th touchdown in his last seven games.

NDSU came into the game leading the FCS allowing just 78 rushing yards a game. Southern finished with 271 yards on the ground.

But the Eagles didn’t score during the final 20 minutes.

“We executed and fought hard,” Swope said. “It was a team effort.”

Georgia Southern self-destructed with 13 penalties for 103 yards. The Eagles also lost a fumble. Two penalties in the Bison’s final drive provided 28 free yards.

“I talk to our guys about a lot of things,” Monken said. “All of them have to do with fundamentals. … You can’t have foolish penalties. You can’t miss assignments. Foolish penalties kill you.